Coronavirus: Gambia Goes Into Lockdown

 All educational institutions will be closed except for Grade 12 students sitting to their delayed West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) .

All non-food outlets in all markets throughout the country will be closed but banks and financial institutions, pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets and mini markets, local corner shops and essential food traders are exempted.

Local markets will only be allowed to open between 06:00 and 14:00 between Monday and Saturday. They will be closed on Sundays for cleansing or necessary fumigation by local authorities.

All land, sea and air borders of the Gambia will be closed and entry and exit of persons into the country will only be allowed to diplomats, drivers of essential commodities and persons seeking urgent medical attention abroad.

Only cargo and humanitarian flights bringing Gambians home, diplomats or humanitarian workers will be allowed  entry subject to them seeking and obtaining prior approvals among other stringent conditions.

Any passenger destined for country shall be in possession of a valid certificate from points of departure indicating that he or she took a COVID-19 test with a negative result at least 72 hours before boarding.

A person who breaches this Regulation on the border closures commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a D5,000 fine.

The president said he is considering deploying the Armed Forces to support the civil authorities in the fight against the disease.

While paying sympathising with the families of the 16 people who have died of the disease in the country, the president said he is committed to fight harder against the dangerous disease.

He added: “In this most critical hour of our existence, with a virus that poses an existential threat to all of mankind, every citizen regardless of your social class or political orientation should come together as one people, with one goal so we can all be victorious.”